Why Supporting Ukraine’s Agriculture Industry is Critical for Global Food Security

As the world’s population continues to grow, ensuring that everyone has enough food to eat is becoming an increasingly urgent issue. Despite this, many people are unaware of the crucial role that Ukraine’s agriculture industry plays in global food security. From its fertile soil to its highly skilled farmers and advanced technology, Ukraine has everything it takes to be a major force in feeding the world. In this blog post, we’ll explore why supporting Ukraine’s agriculture industry is critical for meeting our future food needs and how you can get involved in making a difference. So grab a seat and get ready to learn about one of the most important issues facing our planet today!

The Ukrainian Agriculture Industry

Ukraine is a major agricultural producer and exporter, ranking seventh in the world in terms of agricultural production. The country is also a key player in the global food system due to its large population and significant land area. Ukraine’s agriculture industry is highly diversified and includes wheat, corn, potatoes, dairy products, meat products, poultry, fruit and vegetables. The sector employs more than 2.5 million people and accounts for 7 percent of GDP.

The Ukrainian agriculture industry has been hit hard by the crisis. Agricultural production decreased by 3.5 percent in 2013 compared to 2012, largely due to a fall in crop yields (corn by 14 percent) and lower livestock output (meat products by 18 percent). The sector has also been adversely affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has disrupted access to inputs and markets. Overall, agricultural exports have fallen by 50 percent since 2009.

The crisis has had a serious impact on rural communities across Ukraine. Over half of all farmers are subsistence farmers who operate small plots of land without mechanization or any other modern infrastructure. This makes them particularly vulnerable to external shocks such as the conflict in eastern Ukraine. In addition, unemployment rates among farm workers are high (50-60 percent), exacerbating poverty and social exclusion among rural communities.

Supporting Ukraine’s agriculture industry is critical for global food security. The sector produces around 25 percent of all cereals consumed globally and employs over two million people – many of whom are subsistence farmers who would

The Threat to Ukraine’s Agriculture Industry

Ukraine’s agricultural industry has taken a major hit in recent years as a result of the ongoing conflict in the country. The 2014 European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement and subsequent trade sanctions have made it difficult for Ukraine to purchase goods and equipment necessary for its agricultural sector.

Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, and poultry. Its Agriculture Ministry estimates that the country’s food exports totaled $3.7 billion in 2016. However, Ukrainian agriculture faces strong competition from cheap imports from Russia and other countries in the region.

To support agriculture and help prevent further economic decline in Ukraine, the United States has pledged more than $150 million through 2020 to support programs that improve access to market resources, improve rural infrastructure and support agribusiness development. In addition, Congress has included a number of provisions in fiscal year 2017 appropriations bills that would provide additional assistance to Ukraine’s struggling agricultural sector. These provisions include:

The Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act (known as TAFTA), which would provide financial assistance for projects that increase access to markets for U.S.-produced goods;
The Food for Peace Act (FPA), which would authorize up to $175 million over two years for USAID programs that help developing countries procure food security-related commodities;
The Agricultural Trade Development Council Reauthorization Act of 2017, which would extend funding for the council until 2022;
and The Ukraine Freedom Support Act

Why Supporting Ukraine’s Agriculture Industry is Critical for Global Food Security

“In recent years, Ukraine has been hit particularly hard by the global food crisis. With a rapidly expanding population and limited resources, the country has struggled to produce enough food to meet the needs of its people.

Ukraine’s agriculture industry is critical for global food security. The country produces a large portion of the world’s potatoes, corn, wheat, and other grains. It is also a major dairy producer. In total, Ukraine supplies about 18% of all the grain consumed in Europe.

While Ukraine’s agricultural industry has been struggling due to the global food crisis, there are ways to support it and help improve global food security. For example, countries can provide financial assistance to help farmers increase production and export their products overseas. They can also work with local processors to create value-added products that can be sold abroad. Finally, they can promote agricultural exports through trade promotion programs.”

Conclusion

As Ukraine continues to struggle with the aftermath of war and sanctions, its agriculture industry has taken a major blow. According to the World Food Programme, in 2016 Ukraine lost 27% of its cereal production; this is despite having some of the world’s most fertile land. Supporting Ukraine’s agriculture industry will not only help it regain food security, but it will also provide jobs and training opportunities for Ukrainians. With so much at stake, we need to do all that we can to support Ukraine’s farmers in their time of need.